Are Criminal Records Public In Alaska?

According to Alaska Statutes 12.62.160, criminal records, as well as the recipients of the records, are confidential and may not be disclosed to the general public. Despite this, Alaska law grants access to criminal records in the following circumstances:

• When it is necessary to prevent imminent danger to life or substantial damage to property
• To qualified persons for criminal research 
• When a competent court authorizes the disclosure of the records
• To a criminal justice agency for criminal justice purposes
• When it is needed to locate, identify, and apprehend wanted persons or fugitives, or to recover stolen property, or to publicly report recent arrests, charges or any other criminal activity 
• To government agencies or people when authorized by state or federal law 
• To an interested person, so long as the record does not contain non-conviction information or correctional treatment details
• When requested to determine whether to grant disciplinary or supervisory power over a minor, or dependent adult to a person
• To the subject of the record

The information on the criminal record is collected and assembled from law enforcement agencies, trial courts, and correctional facilities from local counties and across the state. These criminal records are kept and managed by the Department of Public Safety, Criminal Records and Identification (R&I) Bureau.

What Is Included In A Criminal Record In Alaska?

A criminal record is an official document that compiles the criminal history information about a person. It provides details of arrests, charges, trials, and convictions, and is also referred to as a rap sheet. Generally, Alaska criminal records contain the following information:

• The full name and known aliases of the subject
• Physical description of the subject including the height, weight, sex, race, and ethnicity
• Court orders
• Conviction information 
• Charges
• Warrant
• Probation and probation orders
• Convicted crimes

How To Look Up My Criminal Records In Alaska?

The subject of an Alaska criminal record may view or purchase a copy of the criminal record from the Department of Public Safety, Criminal Records and Identification (R&I) Bureau. The Department receives name-based and fingerprint-based requests. The cost for a request based on a name search is $20 for a single copy and $5 for every additional copy. The acceptable mode of payment is by money order or check made payable to the State of Alaska. To carry out a name-based check, complete a name-based form, and make a walk-in request at any of the Department’s locations. Alternatively, submit the form along with the fee by telephone on (907) 269–5767, by fax to (907) 269–5091, or by mail at:

Criminal Records and Identification Bureau 
5700 E. Tudor Road, 
Anchorage, AK 99507 

On the other hand, to make a fingerprint-based request, submit a personal request for the criminal record to the Department of Public Safety, Criminal Records & Identification Bureau located at the address given above. Note, the Department may reject any fingerprint-based request not submitted with a standard FD–258 FBI fingerprint form. Note also that fingerprints submitted in any other format or printed on different paper stocks or in different sizes may also be rejected. The applicant must provide the following information along with the request:

• A full set of fingerprints on a standard FBI applicant card (FD–258). The fingerprints may be rolled at any of the approved public businesses that provide the service.
• A recent mailing address
• A letter explaining the need for the record
• A fee of $35 made payable to the state of Alaska. Make the payment by money order 

Potential employers, licensing agents, and interested third parties may also obtain an Alaska criminal record by completing the Request for Criminal Justice Information form. Note, the subject of the record must authorize the release of the criminal record to the third party. As such, the subject is required to sign the form, as well as an unsworn falsification statement. A fee of $20 is attached to the request of a single copy and a $5 fee for every additional copy. Submit the form, along with the fee paid by check or money order in person or by mail to:

Criminal Records and Identification Bureau 
5700 E. Tudor Road, 
Anchorage, AK 99507

How Can I Get My Criminal Records For Free In Alaska?

The State of Alaska makes no provision for how to get Alaska criminal records for free. Depending on the kind of request, obtaining an Alaska criminal record attracts a fee. Requests based on the use of fingerprints cost $35, while name-based requests cost $20 for a single copy and an extra $5 for every additional copy.

Nonetheless, by § 40.25.110 (d), Alaska Statutes, a public agency may waive or reduce the fee when the agency decides that the waiver or reduction is in the public interest.

How To Search Criminal Records Online In Alaska?

The Department of Public Safety has no official online database where interested eligible persons can access Alaska criminal records. Interested persons can, however, search for criminal case files on the Court View website. Users can search by case number, name, or ticket/citation number if it relates to a traffic offense.

If searching by ticket number, the site also provides the options to search by vehicle license or driver’s license. A name-based search requires the user to enter in the subject’s first and last name. To narrow down the search, provide the middle name, case type, and case status. 

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused in

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How To Get Criminal Records Expunged In Alaska?

Currently, Alaska law does not provide for the expungement of criminal records, even after completing the probation. However, the law does restrict access to criminal records. Therefore, although any person may, for any reason, request for a criminal record, the information provided on it is limited. Under Alaska Statutes 12.62.160, only the following information on the criminal record is available to a person for “any purpose”:

• Prior Conviction Information
• Existing Offender Information
• Criminal Identification Information

Therefore, the Department of Public safety may not release non-conviction information as well as correctional treatment information to an individual for any purpose. On the other hand, the information available to an “interested person” includes the above details, as well as:

• Non-conviction information
• Correctional treatment information 

Note, an interested person, as defined by the statute, is an individual who permits, appoints, or employs a person that has or is to have disciplinary or supervisory power over a minor or a dependent adult, with or without compensation.

How To Get Criminal Records Sealed In Alaska?

By AS 12.62.180, a criminal justice agency is only allowed to seal the criminal record that the agency is responsible for maintaining. To be considered eligible to seal Alaska criminal records, the petitioner must prove that the information contained in the record arose from false accusations or mistaken identity. The petitioner must, therefore, provide:

• Evidence of acquittal or evidence that the charge was dismissed because the charge was as a result of false identification or mistaken identity; or
• If convicted, evidence that the sentencing court overturned the conviction or that the Governor granted a pardon because the charge was the outcome of mistaken identity or false accusations. 

If eligible, complete a Request to Seal Criminal Justice Record form and submit to the head of the agency in charge of keeping past conviction or current offender information. In this case, the agency being, the Department of Public Safety. The form must contain an explanation that shows beyond a reasonable doubt that the charge was a result of mistaken identity or false accusations.

After filling the form, get the signed statement of the arresting or citing officer and attestation of the prosecutor that the charges were due to false accusations or mistaken identity. If the charges were dismissed or resulted in an acquittal, attach a judgment or court order showing a not guilty finding, a dismissal or an acquittal. On the other hand, if convicted, attach either a court order showing that the conviction was overturned or a Governor’s Pardon. Submit the completed form along with the required documents to: 

Alaska Department of Public Safety
R&I - Quality Assurance Unit
5700 E. Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99507

The head of the Department’s decision is the final administrative decision on the petition to seal the criminal record. However, if the decision is unfavorable, the petitioner may appeal to the relevant court. If the request is granted, the subject is allowed to deny the existence of the criminal record.

Who Can See My Expunged/sealed Criminal Record In Alaska?

When a criminal record is sealed in Alaska, the Department of Public Safety enters a notation on the record, asserting that the information has been sealed. This notation includes the date the order was made. From that date, the record is sealed and is inaccessible to the public. The criminal record may, however, be disclosed for the following purposes:

• Record management (including auditing)
• Personal review
• Employment in a criminal justice agency
• Research or statistics
• Preventing imminent harm to a person, or
• Fulfilling a statute or court order.